Storm say kicking a focus for NRL season

Melbourne halves Cameron Munster and Brodie Croft spent the NRL off-season honing their kicking game after the Storm identified it as a weakness.

Despite reaching the NRL decider, Storm skipper Cameron Smith says the club never really covered the loss of Cooper Cronk's kicking game when he switched to the Sydney Roosters at the end of the 2017 season.

"Leading into last season we didn't spend enough time on our kicking game given we lost one of the best kickers in the game in Cooper," Smith said.

"I thought we forgot about that element of the game and in certain games it let us down - it is a weapon in today's game."

Smith said Munster and Croft spent many extra hours outside of regular pre-season training practising kicking, and also worked with him and Melbourne assistant Mark Brentnall on their decision-making.

"They've done a lot of work over the pre-season and they needed to as I thought that was an area that we weren't so great at last year," Smith said.

"One with their choice of kicks, and two, having the game awareness of when to kick and where to put a kick - into the corner, down the middle of the field, in the air."

Melbourne are already reaping the rewards of their efforts with their kicking game superior to their round one opponents Brisbane, and a key to their 22-12 victory on Thursday night.

"I think we showed in when there was opportunities to turn the Broncos around and apply some pressure by trapping them deep in their own end, we did that," Smith said.

"Cameron and Brodie kicked really well - they were really smart with their kicking.

"It showed they've matured over the last six to eight months as far as their game awareness and the right option for them to take."

The Storm next face the Raiders in Canberra in Canberra next Friday night.